Interactive slot machine method and apparatus

Abstract

A gaming device that does not employ pay lines is provided, and has a playfield that is subdivided into a plurality of groups. The configuration of the groups could be done manually by the player, or at random, and changes for each game. At least one key group is used to define key symbols that must be repeated at other groups for a winning combination of symbols to occur.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters of Patent is: 
     
       1. A gaming device for presenting a game, the gaming device comprises:
 means for providing a display with a plurality of display positions, 
 means for configuring the display positions into a plurality of groups, wherein the configuration of display positions into groups can be different for different spins of the game, 
 means for generating visual symbols, and assigning said generated symbols to display positions, 
 means for selecting one of said plurality of groups as a key group, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and 
 means for determining if a winning combination of symbols has occurred based on the combination of said key symbol and symbols assigned to other groups. 
 
     
     
       2. A gaming device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a housing. 
     
     
       3. A gaming device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the display is provided on a screen. 
     
     
       4. A gaming device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the configuration of the display positions into groups is done at least partially at random. 
     
     
       5. A gaming device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the configuration of the display positions into groups is done manually by the player. 
     
     
       6. A gaming device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for generating symbols includes a plurality of simulated rotating reels that are randomly stopped at a plurality of lines. 
     
     
       7. A gaming device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for generating symbols includes a simulated reel for each display positions. 
     
     
       8. A gaming device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the assignment of generated symbols to the display positions is random. 
     
     
       9. A gaming device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a winning combination of symbols is based on the repeated occurrence of a key symbol in a plurality of groups. 
     
     
       10. A gaming device for presenting a game, the gaming device comprises:
 a display with a plurality of display positions, 
 a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to control the operation of the gaming device, 
 a plurality of input control switches to enable a player to interact with the gaming device, 
 a computer program segment that configures display positions into a plurality of groups, 
 wherein the configuration of display positions into groups can be different for different spins of the game, 
 a computer program segment that generates visual symbols, and assign said generated symbols to display positions, 
 a computer program segment that selects one of said plurality of groups as a key group, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and 
 a computer program segment that determines if a winning combination of symbols has occurred based on the combination of said key symbol and symbols assigned to non-key groups. 
 
     
     
       11. A gaming device as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a housing. 
     
     
       12. A gaming device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said computer program segment that configures display positions into a plurality of groups is based on an algorithm that employs a random number generator. 
     
     
       13. A gaming device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said computer program segment that generates and assigns symbols to display positions employs a plurality of simulated rotating reels that are randomly stopped at a plurality of lines. 
     
     
       14. A gaming device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein a winning combination of symbols is based on the repeated occurrence of a key symbol in a plurality of groups. 
     
     
       15. A gaming device for presenting a game, the gaming device comprises:
 a display with a plurality of display positions, 
 a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a game code to control the operation of the gaming device, 
 a plurality of input control switches to enable a player to interact with the gaming device, 
 a game code segment that generates visual symbols using a plurality of reels that are randomly stopped at a plurality of lines, 
 a game code segment that assigns the generated symbols to the display positions, 
 a game code segment that configures the display positions into a plurality of groups, which include at least one key group, wherein said key group includes at least one symbol that is identified as a key symbol, and wherein the configuration of display positions into groups can be different for different spins of the game, and 
 a game code segment that determines if a win has occurred based on a combination of symbols that includes a key symbol and symbols occurring at non-key groups. 
 
     
     
       16. A gaming device as recited in  claim 15  further comprising a housing. 
     
     
       17. A gaming device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the configuration of display positions into a plurality of groups is partially done by the player using input control switches. 
     
     
       18. A gaming device for presenting a game, the gaming device comprises:
 a display with a plurality of display positions, 
 a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a game code to control the operation of the gaming device, 
 a game code segment that generates visual symbols and assigns said generated symbols to display positions, 
 an input control mechanism to enable a player to configure a plurality of display positions as a key group, wherein said key group includes at least one key symbol, and 
 wherein the player can configure different display positions as a key group in different spins of the game, 
 a game code segment that configures the remaining playing positions into a plurality of groups, and 
 a game code segment that determines if a win has occurred based on a combination of symbols that includes a key symbol and symbols occurring at non-key groups. 
 
     
     
       19. A gaming device as recited in  claim 18  further comprising a housing. 
     
     
       20. A gaming device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the input control mechanisms includes a plurality of touch screen control switches. 
     
     
       21. A gaming device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the input control mechanism includes a mouse control device. 
     
     
       22. A bonus game for a reel type slot machine comprising:
 a screen that provides a display with a plurality of display positions, 
 means for configuring the display positions into a plurality of groups, wherein the configuration of display positions can be different for different spins of the bonus game, 
 means for assigning visual symbols occurring at the pay lines of the underlying reel type slot machine to display positions, 
 means for selecting one of said plurality of groups as a key group, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and 
 means for determining if a win has occurred based on a combination of symbols that includes a key symbol and symbols occurring at non-key groups. 
 
     
     
       23. A bonus game for a reel type slot machine, which is controlled by a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a game code, comprising:
 a screen that provides a display with a plurality of display positions, 
 a game code segment that configures the display positions into a plurality of groups, 
 a game code segment that assigns visual symbols occurring at the pay lines of the underlying reel type slot machine to display positions, 
 a game code segment that configures a key group of display positions, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and wherein the configuration of display positions into a key group can be different for different spins of the bonus game, 
 a game code segment that configures the remaining display positions into a plurality of groups, and 
 a game code segment that determines if a win has occurred based on a predefined winning combination of symbols that includes a key symbol and symbols assigned to non-key groups. 
 
     
     
       24. A bonus game for a slot machine, which is controlled by a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a game code, comprising:
 a screen that provides a display with a plurality of display positions, 
 a game code segment that configures display positions into a plurality of groups, wherein 
 the configuration of display positions can be different for different spins of the game, 
 a game code segment that assigns visual symbols generated at the underlying slot machine to display positions, 
 a game code segment that identifies a key group of display positions, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and 
 a game code segment that determines if a winning combination of symbols has occurred based on the repeated occurrence of a key symbol in a plurality of groups. 
 
     
     
       25. A method for a gaming device for presenting a game, wherein the gaming device includes a display with a plurality of display positions, and a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a game code that executes the following steps:
 configuring said plurality of display positions into a plurality of groups, wherein the configuration of display positions into groups can be different for different spins of the game, 
 generating and assigning a plurality of visual symbols to display positions, 
 selecting one of said plurality of groups as a key group, wherein at least one of the symbols assigned to the key group is defined as a key symbol, and 
 determining if a win has occurred for the game based on the repeated occurrence of a key symbol at display positions in a plurality of non-key groups.